Atheists - You wanna take part?

[Gharib]

I don't know what's gotten into me by recently I am opening many threads and almost all are aimed at Atheists.

Due to the number of threads, I find it difficult to keep up with everyone and I hope everyone who posts in my threads forgives me for long absences, I intend on replying to all posts, so I hope no one feels left out, I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy.

The purpose of this thread.

It has to do with this thread: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/religious-debates/134188-can-we-really-call-belief-anymore.html

I said the following statement in it:
"In Islam, we have this thing where faith and evidence work together and individually the one is dependent on the other. So the more you have of faith (which is the first step/phase) the more you have of evidence (the second step/phase)."

So I want to ask fellow RF Atheists if anyone is willing to put that statement under the microscope. What I am asking is that we select the 3 major world religions, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism and you follow the teachings of those religions one at a time for 6 months. This includes going to places of worship, having faith that God exists and trying to see if you are going to 'see' any evidence in support of that faith and it's deity. After this has finished after 18 months, we shall discuss my statement further and whether it works for just any person and any religion or whether you need to be sincere about and as a result God himself shows you his sings after your faith.

Some might see evidence that Islam is real, some Christianity and some Hinduism. Everyone is to share their experiences and what they perceived as evidence and we will discuss them.

As I have said before in my other thread, my statement isn't as black and white as it appears. So I would like to explain that statement further through a practical study if anyone is willing.

Anyone up for it? As an Atheist you don't have anything to worry about, after the 6 months you just go back to believing that religion is stupid and what not. I would ask this of the theists, but there would be a great amount of bias and it would involve breaking the rules of their current faith which they believe to be the correct faith.

So any thoughts?

 

[Riverwolf]

Reminds me of a book I once saw on a shelf that I've always wanted to read, A Year of Living Biblically.

 

[kai]

I don't know what's gotten into me by recently I am opening many threads and almost all are aimed at Atheists.

Due to the number of threads, I find it difficult to keep up with everyone and I hope everyone who posts in my threads forgives me for long absences, I intend on replying to all posts, so I hope no one feels left out, I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy.

The purpose of this thread.

It has to do with this thread: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/religious-debates/134188-can-we-really-call-belief-anymore.html

I said the following statement in it:
"In Islam, we have this thing where faith and evidence work together and individually the one is dependent on the other. So the more you have of faith (which is the first step/phase) the more you have of evidence (the second step/phase)."

So I want to ask fellow RF Atheists if anyone is willing to put that statement under the microscope. What I am asking is that we select the 3 major world religions, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism and you follow the teachings of those religions one at a time for 6 months. This includes going to places of worship, having faith that God exists and trying to see if you are going to 'see' any evidence in support of that faith and it's deity. After this has finished after 18 months, we shall discuss my statement further and whether it works for just any person and any religion or whether you need to be sincere about and as a result God himself shows you his sings after your faith.

Some might see evidence that Islam is real, some Christianity and some Hinduism. Everyone is to share their experiences and what they perceived as evidence and we will discuss them.

As I have said before in my other thread, my statement isn't as black and white as it appears. So I would like to explain that statement further through a practical study if anyone is willing.

Anyone up for it? As an Atheist you don't have anything to worry about, after the 6 months you just go back to believing that religion is stupid and what not. I would ask this of the theists, but there would be a great amount of bias and it would involve breaking the rules of their current faith which they believe to be the correct faith.

So any thoughts?

any thoughts ? yeah you first esalam let me know how you get on. lol

 

[Me Myself]

I think this can only be 100% sincere if you try to be an atheist for 6 months eselam

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

So I want to ask fellow RF Atheists if anyone is willing to put that statement under the microscope. What I am asking is that we select the 3 major world religions, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism and you follow the teachings of those religions one at a time for 6 months. This includes going to places of worship, having faith that God exists and trying to see if you are going to 'see' any evidence in support of that faith and it's deity. After this has finished after 18 months, we shall discuss my statement further and whether it works for just any person and any religion or whether you need to be sincere about and as a result God himself shows you his sings after your faith.

Except for the "having faith that God exists" part - which I don't think I would be able to do, since I don't think that belief is a conscious choice the way you're suggesting - I've already done this for Christianity, and for a heck of a lot longer than 6 months. The result of it was that I went from calling myself an agnostic to calling myself an atheist.

I don't really see any value in repeating the exercise for other religions.

I also don't think that it's a particularly good way to figure out whether a religion is true.

 

[Riverwolf]

Besides, Hindu rituals are designed in such a way that, without belief, they're completely useless.

 

[Gharib]

Reminds me of a book I once saw on a shelf that I've always wanted to read, A Year of Living Biblically.

Old memories coming back to the surface.

Is that all you got out of my post, a resurfaced old memory? :slap:

 

[Gharib]

any thoughts ? yeah you first esalam let me know how you get on. lol

Hahah, but I'm gonna be biased on my views though. Christianity is about solving math problems and how 1+1+1=1 and Hinduism is just an Animals rights group. lol :slap:

My apologies to the Christians and Hindus, just making a joke.

 

[outhouse]

Anyone up for it? As an Atheist you don't have anything to worry about, after the 6 months you just go back to believing that religion is stupid and what not.

by this statement alone it seems you dont understand atheism in any way shape or form.

by not believeing in something you or anyone else cannot prove to be there, doesnt mean atheist think religion is stupid.

I see and know the positive aspects of religion, its not stupid.

What I am asking is that we select the 3 major world religions, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism and you follow the teachings of those religions one at a time for 6 months. This includes going to places of worship, having faith that God exists and trying to see if you are going to 'see' any evidence in support of that faith and it's deity.

we all know there is zero evidence for any deity

what your talking about is precieved evidence.


Your thought is knoble, but after 30 years of theism I have no need to revisit the past. My time is to valuable to do social experiments not of my choosing.

 

[Gharib]

I think this can only be 100% sincere if you try to be an atheist for 6 months eselam

Fair enough, but my beliefs do not allow that.

That's why I asked Atheists for this, you aren't held back by any belief that you will go to hell for believing something else. I mean, a Hindu would have to eat meat, a Muslim would have to believe in polytheism. Both cases are big NO NO's. I don't want to have people go against their faiths, but it shouldn't be a problem for those who do not ascribe to a particular faith, ie. An Atheist. :yes:

 

[dust1n]

I don't know what's gotten into me by recently I am opening many threads and almost all are aimed at Atheists.

Due to the number of threads, I find it difficult to keep up with everyone and I hope everyone who posts in my threads forgives me for long absences, I intend on replying to all posts, so I hope no one feels left out, I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy.

The purpose of this thread.

It has to do with this thread: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/religious-debates/134188-can-we-really-call-belief-anymore.html

I said the following statement in it:
"In Islam, we have this thing where faith and evidence work together and individually the one is dependent on the other. So the more you have of faith (which is the first step/phase) the more you have of evidence (the second step/phase)."

So I want to ask fellow RF Atheists if anyone is willing to put that statement under the microscope. What I am asking is that we select the 3 major world religions, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism and you follow the teachings of those religions one at a time for 6 months. This includes going to places of worship, having faith that God exists and trying to see if you are going to 'see' any evidence in support of that faith and it's deity. After this has finished after 18 months, we shall discuss my statement further and whether it works for just any person and any religion or whether you need to be sincere about and as a result God himself shows you his sings after your faith.

Some might see evidence that Islam is real, some Christianity and some Hinduism. Everyone is to share their experiences and what they perceived as evidence and we will discuss them.

As I have said before in my other thread, my statement isn't as black and white as it appears. So I would like to explain that statement further through a practical study if anyone is willing.

Anyone up for it? As an Atheist you don't have anything to worry about, after the 6 months you just go back to believing that religion is stupid and what not. I would ask this of the theists, but there would be a great amount of bias and it would involve breaking the rules of their current faith which they believe to be the correct faith.

So any thoughts?

I've already wasted 2 years of my life looking into religion. I found no evidence for nothing supernatural or divine. Should I keep looking upon your insistence until I find what you want me to find?

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Since I study Meister Eckhart I can do atheism rather easily. It's like practice. You formulate an idea about God then you dismiss it.

 

[Riverwolf]

a Hindu would have to eat meat

There are plenty of Hindus who eat meat.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

That's why I asked Atheists for this, you aren't held back by any belief that you will go to hell for believing something else. I mean, a Hindu would have to eat meat, a Muslim would have to believe in polytheism. Both cases are big NO NO's. I don't want to have people go against their faiths, but it shouldn't be a problem for those who do not ascribe to a particular faith, ie. An Atheist. :yes:

Most atheists don't believe in an afterlife. A long life for a person might be 80 years. You're asking for 18 months of that: about 2% of the only life we'll ever have. That's huge.

 

[dust1n]

Fair enough, but my beliefs do not allow that.

Neither do mine.

That's why I asked Atheists for this, you aren't held back by any belief that you will go to hell for believing something else. I mean, a Hindu would have to eat meat, a Muslim would have to believe in polytheism. Both cases are big NO NO's. I don't want to have people go against their faiths, but it shouldn't be a problem for those who do not ascribe to a particular faith, ie. An Atheist. :yes:

Yes, it shouldn't be a problem for us atheists to go out of our way to do incredibly pointless tasks that go against our understanding of the world. It's not like we have anything important to be doing.

 

[Me Myself]

That's why I asked Atheists for this, you aren't held back by any belief that you will go to hell for believing something else. I mean, a Hindu would have to eat meat

nonsense. I would avoid meat even if I were an atheist.

You could not worship Allah for 6 months.

then you just resume worship.

About not having anything at stake, if I was an atheist, I would fear brainwashing myself into it. I mean, you need to REALLY TRY to believe something that you feel there is no evidence for and may very well be only wishful thinking.

Why hypnotize yourself? What is THAT going to evidence? that you are good reprograming yourself?

Should one then again try 6 months of atheism to see if it wasnt just that? good ability to brainwahs oneself?

If you only have one life, you definetely don´t want to compromise your mental sanity in there.

 

[Gharib]

Except for the "having faith that God exists" part - which I don't think I would be able to do, since I don't think that belief is a conscious choice the way you're suggesting - I've already done this for Christianity, and for a heck of a lot longer than 6 months. The result of it was that I went from calling myself an agnostic to calling myself an atheist.

I don't really see any value in repeating the exercise for other religions.

I also don't think that it's a particularly good way to figure out whether a religion is true.

But that's what I'm talking about, your unbiased experience. It doesn't necessarily mean that you will 'see' anything for any religion. The best thing that could happen is that you won't see anything and thus there could be no bias and say Islam had evidence while Christianity didn't, unless you 'see' anything you won't say it. Which is why Atheists are the best candidates.

But of course, I don't want to force anyone into this. It's just a thought.

And through this, it is not my intention to figure out which religion is the correct one. I probably wouldn't be influenced if everyone said that Christianity had 'evidence'. I just want to prove that my statement works, and by posting our experiences here, we get to analyse the 'evidence' and see what people thought.

 

[Me Myself]

And through this, it is not my intention to figure out which religion is the correct one. I probably wouldn't be influenced if everyone said that Christianity had 'evidence'. I just want to prove that my statement works, and by posting our experiences here, we get to analyse the 'evidence' and see what people thought.

Works for what?

You just said you wouldn´t be interested in christianity if someone felt christian after the experiment.

Maybe it also works into becoming an atheist.

At least for penguin (and I know there are thousand others) you can see it worked the completely opposite way. Are you just going to discard that? Are you just going to take the results that you like to evidence your point? and again, what is your point? that people are able to brainwash themselves?

 

[Gharib]

Why are some of you getting so emotional? I'm just asking and trying to explain what I mean. As I said, if you don't want to do this then no problem.

Have I offended anyone by my question?

 

[Me Myself]

Well, you said "atheists" dont have a problem doing this. When you said that you were qualifying them all with the same brush.

remember the only thing all of this completely different persons have in common is to not believe in God. That is almost as little as people that do not believe in unicorns will have in common.